Friday, 3/68:00pm | Improv | $10

Runs in the Family is an improvised comedic play about families and the weirdos that define them. Each new show peeks behind the blinds and stares into the unfortunately recognizable world of the dysfunctional family.

Friday, 3/610:00pm | Talkshow | $10

Richmond’s only live late night talk show is back, featuring all the things you’d expect to see at a typical late night talk show: a monologue, interviews, commercials, a killer house band and a fabulous announcer/sidekick!

Improv 101: Introduction (SOLD-OUT)

When: Sundays, 7 – 9pm for 8 weeks beginning Jan. 11th.Instructor: Robert SobeckeCost: $185Prerequisites: None. No comedy or performance experience necessary. Email us if you have any questions.Have you always wanted to try improv? Are you looking to use the fundamental lessons in other aspects of your life? In this first level of our training program, you will learn the fundamentals of improv from saying “Yes, and” to listening and being more spontaneous.

Intro to Improv is an eight-week course that is taught in a very supportive, fun environment that allows you to feel comfortable taking risks. All experience levels are welcome.

About the Instructor
Robert Sobecke performs regularly with the Coalition Theater house team Dollar Machine. His improv education began as the very first student in the first class ever offered by the Coalition Theater. Almost five years of improv experience have taken Robert to workshops with improv luminaries, and to performances at improv festivals, beerhalls, a country basement, and other sundry venues in the Eastern U.S.

Have you always wanted to try improv? Are you looking to use the fundamental lessons in other aspects of your life? In this first level of our training program, you will learn the fundamentals of improv from saying “Yes, and” to listening and being more spontaneous.

Intro to Improv is an eight-week course that is taught in a very supportive, fun environment that allows you to feel comfortable taking risks. All experience levels are welcome.

About the Instructor
Grace began classes at the Coalition Theater in 2011 and now performs with the house team Da Vinci and is part of the writing staff for RVA Tonight. Grace loves the graphic arts, cooking, and travel.

Improv 201: Character and Relationship (IN SESSION)

When: Mondays, 7 – 9pm for 8 weeks beginning Jan. 12th.Instructor: Patrick GantzCost: $185Prerequisites: Intro to ImprovEmail us if you have any questions.Good scenes are the bedrock of improv. In our second level, you will strengthen the skills you built in our Intro class and focus on creating sustainable scenes based on strong, deep relationships and honest emotional reactions.

Great if you want to dig deeper into improv or if you need to interact with other humans in your day-to-day life.

About the Instructor
Patrick Gantz was first introduced to improv in the seventh grade and, since then, his addiction has spawned The Whethermen of UVA, taken him to Chicago where he performed among iO’s house teams, and scooped him off to Edinburgh where the Guardian called him, “Somewhat overwrought.”

Good scenes are the bedrock of improv. In our second level, you will strengthen the skills you built in our Intro class and focus on creating sustainable scenes based on strong, deep relationships and honest emotional reactions.

Great if you want to dig deeper into improv or if you need to interact with other humans in your day-to-day life.

About the Instructor
Matt Newman is the Managing Director of the Coalition Theater and coach of the houseteam, Pigeon. Matt has been performing improv and sketch comedy since 1999 and has studied at iO Chicago where he played on their Harold house team, Fat Kid, and performed several runs of shows with the independent ensemble, The Album. He is lucky to have studied under some of the best teachers around. He is a pretty nice guy and serious professional.

Improv 301: Patterns and Games (IN SESSION)

When: Sundays, 1 – 3pm for 8 weeks beginning Jan. 11th.Instructor: Scott BeckettCost: $185Prerequisites: Improv 101 and 201Email us if you have any questions.In our third level, we explore creating patterns and discovering games to propel your scenes forward. You’ll get out of your head and into the show by focusing on your team and what they need.

You’ve contracted the improv bug, you may as well accept that you are now beyond the help of medical science.

About the Instructor
Scott Beckett has been performing improv for four years, including two years with the Coalition Theater’s house team The Johnsons. He has performed in DC, Baltimore, and Charleston. He comes to improv after four years of driving construction equipment for the United States Marine Corps and ten years in health care business analysis. Scott has starred in two Richmond 48 Hour Film Festival runners up for Best Film.

In our fourth level, we’ll approach Long Form from the 16-bar blues of improv: The Harold.

Over eight weeks, this survey will strengthen the broad skills you have (two-person scenes, group work, playing from emotion, pattern recognition), and put it all on its feet in a longer, cohesive piece.

About the Instructor
Katie Holcomb is a co-founder and current Artistic Director of the Coalition Theater. She got her start improvising in 2000 with the ComedySportz Improv Theatre where she would later become a member of their coaching staff. Currently, you can see her performing with both Pigeon and Middle Management. She loves what she does an unbearable amount.

Improv 001: FREEVIEW (SOLD-OUT)

When: Thursday, January 8th (6:30 – 7:30pm.)Cost: FREEPrerequisites: No comedy or performance experience (or money) necessary. This class is intended for anyone who has NOT taken a previous Freeview class.Email us if you have any questions.

This free, one-time workshop is a preview of what improv class is all about. We’ll walk through some basic concepts, teach you a few exercises and games, and generally have a good time. This class is intended for anyone who has NOT taken a previous Freeview class.

Did we mention it’s free?

Stand-Up 101 (SOLD-OUT)

When: Sundays, 1 – 3pm for 8 weeks, beginning Jan. 11th.Instructor: Jim ZarlingCost: $185Prerequisites: This class is intended for people who have little to no experience doing stand-up comedy, who have always wanted to try stand-up but don’t know how, when, or where to start. (Hint: It starts here). Email us if you have any questions.

Over the course of this class, students will work toward writing and performing an original 5-minute stand-up set. Students will begin learning basic concepts of joke writing (premise/set up/punchline). You will look to find premises in your everyday life, then work on honing your material and making it authentic and accessible to audiences. Later in the session, students will focus on creating, critiquing and workshopping their own material. The class will culminate in a class showcase performance of all-original student sets.

About the Instructor
Jim Zarling has been performing as a stand up comic since 2006. In 2008 he founded the Comedy Roundtable in Charlottesville which helped countless stand up comics get their start on stage. He has headlined several tours throughout the Southeast and has featured at The Cape Fear Comedy Festival, The North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival and The F Bomb Comedy Festival. In the past year has opened for Myq Kaplan, Jared Logan and Tig Notaro.

At the Coalition Theater he performs with Pigeon and MEGAPOWER and coaches new house team Clapsaddle.